History is the action and reaction of these two, nature and thought – two boys pushing each other on the curbstone of the pavement. – Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Conduct of Life: Fate
One of the consequences of the Iranian revolution has been an explosion of history. A country once known only from British consular reports and intrepid travelogues is now awash with historical documents, letters, diaries, grainy video, weblogs and secret police files of questionable authenticity. – James Buchan